#ParkersNewCarAwards

Welcome to the Parkers New Car Awards 2018!

At Parkers.co.uk we are dedicated to bringing you the best advice and information to help you decide which new car you should buy. Whatever your budget or lifestyle, we can help – we’ve reviewed hundreds of cars to help you buy the right car for you.

This year, in partnership with mustard.co.uk, we go one step further with the Parkers New Car Awards 2018. With a range of categories, from Best First Car to Best Large Family Car and Best Car for Thrill-Seekers, our awards highlight the most outstanding vehicle in each section. Whether you’re buying your first ever car, or upgrading because your family is growing, let us take the stress out of choosing the best car for you.

BEST FIRST CAR SHORTLIST

Buying a first car, either for yourself or your ever-loving offspring? Then you need to consider one of these. Budget is bound to be critical here, so we’ve analysed purchase price, finance, running costs and insurance – without forgetting that image can be everything when you’re young. These are our stylish and practical choices.

Ford Fiesta

Now in its eighth generation, the Fiesta remains the benchmark all other small cars are measured against – it’s great to drive, cheap to run, and now roomier and safer than ever.

BEST SMALL FAMILY CAR SHORTLIST

Proving that family-friendly motoring doesn’t have to mean a massive boring box, our contenders for the small family car award are exceptionally diverse. From hatchback hero to super-practical yet compact estate via the wacky and wonderful world of crossovers there’s something for all tastes here. But which is our winner?

Skoda Fabia Estate

It’s hard to imagine a more practical small family car – the Fabia Estate is cheap to run, easy to drive and has a load bay bigger than a Ford Mondeo’s despite being based on a supermini.

BEST LARGE FAMILY CAR SHORTLIST

Need more space? Then a large family car could be for you. Inevitably estates will be high up most lists here, but there are some exceedingly family-friendly SUVs to choose from as well. These are our three large family favourites, chosen for their practicality, safety and desirability. But which takes the crown?

BMW 5 Series Touring

One of the most versatile cars of any kind, with all the safety features you’ll ever need, plus a substantial boot and a class-leading driving experience. The ultimate family machine?

BEST SEVEN-SEATER

Got a large family? Or a very active social life? Then you’re going to need a BIG car – but don’t despair. There are some brilliant seven-seater choices on the market, and most of them dodge the old-school van-with-windows bullet with considerable panache, regardless of your budget. These three made our shortlist for very different reasons.

Land Rover Discovery

The latest Land Rover Discovery is wonderfully practical and brilliant off-road, but it’s also a whole lot more civilised than before and has the lifestyle angle fully covered.

BEST CAR FOR SUN-SEEKERS SHORTLIST

UK car buyers love convertibles – there’s no better way to enjoy a sunny day. Choice in this area is wide-ranging as well, so whether you want a budget-conscious weekend toy, a practical four-seater with grand touring pretensions or a proper sports car, our shortlist has a sun-seeker suitable for you.

Audi A5 Cabriolet

A premium four-seater that combines roof-down desirability with commendable practicality. The A5 is refined, beautifully engineer and even has a sensible-sized boot.

BEST CAR FOR THRILL-SEEKERS SHORTLIST

Plenty of cars claim to prioritise the driving experience, but it takes something genuinely special to really deliver. As you’ll see from our shortlist, a thrill-seeker doesn’t have to be insanely fast or enormously expensive – though one contender is certainly both – but it must place the driver at the heart of the action.

McLaren 570S

With astonishing handling and incredible pace, the 570S isn’t subtle – or cheap – but it’s enormously intoxicating, and establishes a new supercar benchmark at its price point.

BEST COMPANY CAR SHORTLIST

The smart company car money goes on petrol rather than diesel these days – as in most cases a modern petrol engine will be cheaper to tax, offer greater refinement, an engaging drive and good fuel economy. Add in an electric motor and you’ll be laughing all the way to your next business meeting.

BMW 330e M Sport

The plug-in hybrid that’s making eco motoring cool – all the image and driving chops you expect from a 3 Series combined with great potential for fuel economy and temptingly low tax bills.

BEST LUXURY CAR SHORTLIST

Modern luxury is a complex business – and a modern luxury car has to combine so many facets to be a success. It must impress from behind the wheel as well as the back seat, the on-board technology needs to be cutting edge, and comfort and refinement should be second to none. Every car in our shortlist stands up to this scrutiny.

Bentley Bentayga

A Bentley SUV sounded like sacrilege in concept, but the Bentayga can sway even the meanest cynic in execution. Outstanding luxury, and great road manners, too.

BEST ECO CAR SHORTLIST

Eco cars are finally coming of age – and although we’re not yet ready to so say goodbye to petrol and diesel completely just yet, the alternatives are getting more and more attractive. How long before a hydrogen-powered machine tops this category? These are our top choices in the here and now.

Renault Zoe

The pert and pretty Zoe is a perfectly judged small electric car that’s now as at home on the motorway as it is in the city thanks to fast charging and vastly increased battery capacity.

BEST VAN SHORTLIST

What makes a good van? Affordability, versatility and reliability are key – but we’d also argue that innovation is increasingly important in the van market, especially given the immense pace of change in the motoring world right now. Each model shortlisted here is doing its bit for the future as well doing its best to haul goods right now.

Renault Kangoo ZE 33

We’ve chosen to highlight an individual model in the small van category, because with 50% more range than the previous version, the new Renault Kangoo ZE 33 makes electric van ownership so much more viable than before.

Ford Transit Custom

The UK’s best-selling van is available in a wide range of models, offers competitive payloads, is surprisingly good to drive and great value, too. And soon you’ll be able to buy a plug-in hybrid version.

Volkswagen Crafter

VW’s new-from-the-ground-up large van may not compete on payload terms with older rivals, but it’s supremely easy to drive, comfortable over extended distances and crammed with safety innovation – including autonomous emergency braking as standard.

BEST FINANCE SCHEME SHORTLIST

Quite simply, this award goes to the car manufacturer offering you the best finance agreement on a new car. This might not be the cheapest deal, but the one which offers you the best flexibility, fairness, and overall value for money.

BMW

Enormous deposit contributions on many of its cars and mostly low APR charges make BMW finance very appealing. Unlike some premium brands, finance is very good value on cheaper models and you can take advantage of low APR and big discounts on the priciest BMWs too.

Skoda

Some manufacturers offer great value finance on one or two models, but Skoda provides enticing deals across the range. Not only are monthly payments low on most models, but it can be cheaper overall to buy a Skoda through finance than paying cash upfront – thanks to deposit contribution discounts and low interest charges.

SEAT

Huge deposit contribution incentives, test drive offers and the prospect of free insurance on the new Ibiza make many SEAT deals fantastic value. Choose your model carefully, however, as APR charges are high on certain models and not all have deposit contribution discounts.

BEST APPROVED USED CAR SCHEME SHORTLIST

Kia

All approved used Kias come with seven years’ warranty, plus a 60-day exchange policy and seven days’ free insurance. You also get 12 months’ UK and European breakdown cover and Kia will pay up to £500 to get your car through its MOT. This scheme applies to models under 18 months/18,000 miles old.

BEST CAR TECH INNOVATION SHORTLIST

With technology advancing at a rate of knots, our shortlisted innovations really impressed us with how they are taking the world of cars into the future.

JLR’s activity key

This innovation from JLR allows you to lock your keys inside your vehicle, and wear an activity wrist band instead of carry a key fob – it’s robust and waterproof, and so ideal for outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Citroen C3 dashcam

BEST SAFETY AWARD SHORTLIST

Whenever you climb into your car, you want to be confident that it will keep you, and your family, safe. These safety innovations make sure you and your precious cargo are as safe as can be while on the road, using the latest technological advances.

EuroNCAP – 20 years of crash testing

In 20 years of crash testing, EuroNCAP has managed to completely change the way carmakers approach car design, leading the way with offset-impact testing and real-world crash testing. NCAP testing is directly responsible for more than 78,000 lives saved across Europe since 1997.

Nissan Micra’s standard safety equipment

Volkswagen van AEB standardisation

A gamechanging innovation from a van manufacturer that will revolutionise road safety as it gets rolled out across the market. Like all important innovations, expect other manufacturers to follow suit as soon as they can.

BEST PICKUP SHORTLIST

Whether you’re looking for a replacement for an aging Defender or need a machine that can haul Tarquin the Wonder Horse in style, the modern 1.0-tonne pickup segment is packed with worthy contenders – picking just three for the shortlist was a genuinely difficult task.

Mitsubishi L200

Well-equipped right across the range from basic working versions to aggressive lifestyle models, the L200 is great value and impressively refined. There’s something for everyone here.

CAR OF THE YEAR 2018

TOYOTA C-HR

With a bold design inside and out, this is a compact SUV with a super-modern twist. The hybrid efficiency isn’t a surprise, but the quality of the interior and the driving experience is.

The Toyota C-HR is a brilliant example of how the most functional of family cars can be spiced up with exciting detail, thoughtful touches and intelligent design to become a true gamechanger. The Parkers.co.uk team loves the way it drives, and so, it seems, do the younger buyers who are now flocking to Toyota dealers, after years of passing them by.

BEST FIRST CAR

Whether you’re a young driver looking to buy your first car, or you’re investing in one for your offspring, there’s a massive range of first cars to choose from. Budget is big in this category, as is the cost of insurance – but don’t forget that image is everything when you’re young. Our winning car and the commended models bring you style and practicality on a budget – we think any new driver would be happy to drive our Best First Car.

SEAT IBIZA

The new Ibiza – with sharp styling, lots of kit and plenty of plus points from a financial perspective, this SEAT will turn heads and win hearts.

BEST SMALL FAMILY CAR

Family cars don’t come in all sizes – you can buy a practical car that has enough room for all your stuff without resorting to a full-sized SUV or MPV, as our winning car shows. There’s a huge amount of compact wallet-friendly family cars available on the market, from well-designed lifestyle crossovers, to the super-practical small estate cars. Being in the family way won’t limit your choices.

TOYOTA C-HR

With a bold design inside and out, this is a compact SUV with a super-modern twist. The hybrid efficiency isn’t a surprise, but the quality of the interior and the driving experience is.

BEST LARGE FAMILY CAR

When your family grows, your lifestyle changes – whether you’re thinking of the number of seats, or room in the boot. So, if you’re thinking of a large saloon, hatch, estate, MPV or SUV, there’s an almost unlimited number of choices. Choose our winning Best Large Family Car, or the commended models, and you won’t go wrong.

BMW 5 SERIES TOURING

One of the most versatile cars of any kind, with all the safety features you’ll ever need, plus a substantial boot and a class-leading driving experience. The ultimate family machine.

BEST SEVEN-SEATER

With two or more children, maybe one or two of their friends, plus the grandparents, the practicalities of a seven-seater are clear. But there’s no reason why you should be landed with an old-school van-with-windows if you’re looking to haul people. Our winning car is a brilliant seven-seaters you should consider for your next investment.

SKODA KODIAQ

Seating seven in style and comfort at a remarkably easy to swallow cost, the Skoda Kodiaq is an SUV that scores on so many levels. Practical, well-designed and a joy to live with.

BEST CAR FOR SUN-SEEKERS

When the sun’s out, you want to get your top down; there’s no better way to enjoy a sunny day than cruising around in a convertible. But whether the roof is up or down, your sun-seeker car needs to be fun to drive. Our Best Car for Sun Seekers is brilliant for top-down driving.

MAZDA MX-5

The enormously popular MX-5 is proof that a great-handling, two-seater convertible doesn’t need to be expensive, complex, or massively quick to win friends. The latest model is a star.

BEST CAR FOR THRILL-SEEKERS

Acceleration. Handling. Soundtrack. Our winning car has all of these – as do the commended models, even if they’re wildly different in the way they achieve this. And that’s why we love this award: variety. You might not be concerned about how big the boot is, but you’ll deeply care about how much these cars make you smile on your favourite stretch of road.

FORD FOCUS RS

The best hot hatch you can buy, and a deserving Parkers Cheap Fast Car champion already – the Focus RS has tricks that cars several times its price can’t match. And a decent boot.

BEST COMPANY CAR

The needs of company car drivers are many and varied – and any carmaker that can build a car that’s at the heart of what business users need is doing very well indeed. This was a tightly fought award - our three favourites all had compelling reasons to win this category – from low running and taxation costs and reliability, to desirability and sheer joy to drive – but there can only be one winner.

BMW 330E M SPORT

The plug-in hybrid that’s making eco motoring cool – all the image and driving chops you expect from a 3 Series combined with great potential for fuel economy and temptingly low tax bills.

BEST LUXURY CAR

To be a great luxury car, you need more than space and gizmos. You need class, comfort and poise – and with so many top-flight cars available, we struggled narrowing down this list to three. There was more variety here than in any of our categories, and with very good reason – they need to appeal to businesses, drivers and most importantly, the VIP in the back – but we hope you agree with our worthy winner.

MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS

A tech leader for decades, the S-Class continues to innovate while never forgetting that passengers should always be the priority. No one does the conventional luxury saloon better.

BEST ECO CAR

Although we’re a long way from the end of days for petrol and diesel, it’s good to know that the forward-thinking among us have a choice of some very talented alternatively-powered cars. Our winning eco car is good to drive, and satisfying to own, despite being designed to save the planet!

RENAULT ZOE

The pert and pretty Zoe is a perfectly judged small electric car that’s now as at home on the motorway as it is in the city thanks to fast charging and vastly increased battery capacity.

BEST PICKUP

Whether you’re looking for a replacement for an aging defender or need a machine that can haul Tarquin the Wonder Horse in style, the modern 1.0-tonne pickup category was packed with worthy contenders – picking a winner was a genuinely difficult task.

BEST VAN

What makes a good van? Affordability, versatility and reliability are key – but we’d also argue that innovation is increasingly important in the van market, especially given the immense pace of change in the motoring world right now. Our winning Van of the Year is doing its bit for the future as well doing its best to haul goods right now.

VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER

VW’s new-from-the-ground-up large van may not compete on payload terms with older rivals, but it’s supremely easy to drive, comfortable over extended distances and crammed with safety innovation – including autonomous emergency braking as standard.

FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM

The UK’s best-selling van is available in a wide range of models, offers competitive payloads, is surprisingly good to drive and great value, too. And soon you’ll be able to buy a plug-in hybrid version.

RENAULT KANGOO ZE 33

We’ve chosen to highlight an individual model in the small van category, because with 50% more range than the previous version, the new Renault Kangoo ZE 33 makes electric van ownership so much more viable than before.

BEST FINANCE SCHEME

Quite simply, this award goes to the car manufacturer offering you the best finance agreement on a new car. This might not be the cheapest deal, but the one which offers you the best flexibility, fairness, and overall value for money.

SKODA

Some manufacturers offer great value finance on one or two models, but Skoda provides enticing deals across the range. Not only are monthly payments low on most models, but it can be cheaper overall to buy a Skoda through finance than paying cash upfront – thanks to deposit contribution discounts and low interest charges.

SEAT

Huge deposit contribution incentives, test drive offers and the prospect of free insurance on the new Ibiza make many SEAT deals fantastic value. Choose your model carefully, however, as APR charges are high on certain models and not all have deposit contribution discounts.

BMW

Enormous deposit contributions on many of its cars and mostly low APR charges make BMW finance very appealing. Unlike some premium brands, finance is very good value on cheaper models and you can take advantage of low APR and big discounts on the priciest BMWs too.

BEST APPROVED USED CAR SCHEME

Simply put, this is the manufacturer with the best scheme to find you an approved used car.

KIA

All approved used Kias come with seven years’ warranty, plus a 60-day exchange policy and seven days’ free insurance. You also get 12 months’ UK and European breakdown cover and Kia will pay up to £500 to get your car through its MOT. This scheme applies to models under 18 months/18,000 miles old.

BEST CAR TECH INNOVATION

With technology advancing at a rate of knots, our winner and the two commended innovations really impressed us with by how they are taking the world of cars into the future, but in a way that makes them supremely easy to live with today.

VAUXHALL ONSTAR

Innovative concierge system that adds a human element to car ownership – other manufacturers need to follow Vauxhall’s lead on this one.

CITROEN C3 DASHCAM

JLR’S ACTIVITY KEY

This innovation from JLR allows you to lock your keys inside your vehicle, and wear an activity wrist band instead of carry a key fob – it’s robust and waterproof, and so ideal for outdoor sports enthusiasts.

BEST SAFETY AWARD

Whenever you climb into your car, you want to be confident that it will keep you, and your family, safe. The winning safety innovation makes sure you and your precious cargo remain in one piece while on the road, using the latest technological advances.

EURONCAP – 20 YEARS OF CRASH TESTING

In 20 years of crash testing, EuroNCAP has managed to completely change the way carmakers approach car design, leading the way with offset-impact testing and real-world crash testing. NCAP testing is directly responsible for more than 78,000 lives saved across Europe since 1997.

VOLKSWAGEN VAN AEB STANDARDISATION

A gamechanging innovation from a van manufacturer that will revolutionise road safety as it gets rolled out across the market. Like all important innovations, expect other manufacturers to follow suit as soon as they can.